Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division North side have added a little bit of Championship-winning star power to their squad for the 2022/23 season.
Former Reading FC and Queen’s Park Rangers midfielder (and current Reading under 18s boss) Mikele Leigertwood has joined the Sumas and should play some part this season according to manager Eliot Whitehouse.
39-year-old Leigertwood won two Championship titles in his career, one with QPR in 2011 and proved he still had what it took when he played in Royal’s recent 150th-anniversary tie between the club’s two title-winning sides.
Speaking about the move and how it came about, Whitehouse said: “It’s through our Reading links. My first team coach is the under 16 academy manager there and we got talking with Mikele. He was keen to get his boots on again.
“His under 18s play Saturday morning and he’s said if he’s available then he’ll come and support the club and hopefully play a few games for us.
“He’s been down to training a few times. You can see his influence rubbing off on people just with him being there. If the opportunity arises and everything works out we’ll get him on the Lowther Road pitch.”
Leigertwood won’t be the only former Reading FC player gracing the Combined Counties League this season with Jamie Ashdown signed on at Ascot United, while former Fulham striker Barry Hayles is back at Windsor.
